Just when you thought UK hip hop was no more. You remember Homecut (a.k.a Testament, Andy Brooks) exists…

This incredible specemin of human talent has been on the scene and making waves since I can remember Leeds even having a scene. Vibing with the likes of KidKanevil (manifested DOPE), the lovely Corinne Bailey Ray, Andreya Triana and a personal favourite, Soweto Kinch (who we had the pleasure of seeing at last years Garforth Music Festival) in the latest of his musical ventures, Homecut is really making moves and proclaiming a message that illuminates the reality of life. DEEP. In fact, I feel bad that I havn’t caught up with this man’s live performance of late. THE SHAME.

Ironically, this cheers me up every time.

Believe.

I totally do which is why for a couple years I’ve been following one of the hottest artist on the net Boonie Mayfield a.k.a Boon Doc. Vibing with the likes of Shawn Keith of Classic Blue it’s only a matter of time until he’s as much of a household name (when it comes to producing) as the big dogs like Ryan Leslie.

OH, never heard of him? Check his beatmaking/sampling/composing skills via YouTube…

Boonie Mayfield a.k.a Boon Doc (born Solomon Vaughn on April 19, 1983) is an up and coming hip-hop producer/artist currently based in Denver, Colorado. Despite residing in a city that has been virtually shunned by the music industry, Boon Doc has managed to defeat the odds by generating a buzz through the internet with the use of his impactful Youtube videos and cutting edge beats. Fellow producers, artists and admirers around the world have constantly given him praise for his consistency, energy, style, soulfulness and humble attitude. Boon Doc’s style clearly resembles hip-hop’s “golden age” sound with an update of off-the-wall sample chopped melodies, intoxicating rhythms and hypnotic basslines. Although his personal favorite style of producing ranges within smooth, introspective, street/grimey and neo soul tracks, he proves to be extremely diverse with the ability to produce contemporary r&b, pop, club tracks and house. With the mass interest he has sparked around the world, Boon Doc is sure to become a household name in the near future.

http://www.youtube.com/user/BlackTuezday

BELIEVE.

CH CH CH CHIDDY BANG

Music - Hip-hop / Electronica. These guys are a 4 piece who are doing their thing whilst still working away at college in America, but the maturity of their lyrics and music far exceeds their years. The track you’ll be hearing all over Radio 1 is “THE OPPOSITE OF ADULTS”.

Fact of the day is that at the start of the trackm the lyrics ‘And we pretty much amazing’ is a shoutout to an amazing music blog PRETTY MUCH AMAZING that was trumpeting these guys since Feb ‘09. We’ll be reviewing the EP that’s dropping, and giving you the heads up on Chiddy’s goings on over here in the United States of England.

So here’s the myspace, http://www.myspace.com/chiddybang so most definitely go and show them some love. Whilst you’re webbing, go visit http://prettymuchamazing.com too.

Inspired and driven by the original house parties and park jams which birthed MC’s, B-boy Crews, Graffiti Artists, DJ’s and the foundation of Hip-Hop, Sedgwick & Cedar are introducing a new line of t-shirts. They’ve collaborated with famous hip-hop photographer Jamel Shabazz to incorporate some of the most influential and rare photo’s in urban history to their t-shirts.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Jamel Shabazz picked up his first camera at just 15 years old and has been capturing the finest snap shots of ‘Urban Life’ for over 30 years.

The Shabazz collection will feature the heart & soul of 1980’s New York designed into the aesthetic of Sedgwick & Cedar clothing. Consumers will get a chance to own a real piece of history, not just a garment or an accessory. These tops are classics that will carry on looking as fly as 1973′ has ever been. But they’re only available for the holiday and being a limited edition you’ll have to catch them while you still have the chance!

“Jamel Shabazz was taking photos of the coolest cats in Brooklyn, Queens and Harlem during the 70s and 80s. Kicking it in Kangol, super clean Nikes, and a lot of Adidas; the poses his subjects strike are awesome.”

Each design from this signature selection will have a custom hangtag describing the legacy of the master behind the lens, Jamel Shabazz.

Sedgwick & Cedar will offer this unique collection on line here but you can get your mitts on them in speciality shops in the US, Europe and Asia, proudly celebrating the Brooklyn photographer’s timeless imagery.

The images in this collaboration can also be found in Jamel’s book ‘Back in the Days’, which is full of photo’s of what he considers true African American culture, before New York was changed by gang warfare and drugs. “These images are so incredibly cool. And if you’re white, they will make you feel even whiter.”


Jamel Shabazz, even if he doesn’t still rock a squafro these days, I think he’s pretty damn fly.

Yoshi doing his thing, repping the old-school RISE.

YOSHI BLESSED

The online publication  Format Magazine, just took playing with Legos to a whole new level with their collection of 20 classic (and some not-so-classic) hip hop album covers recreated with those iconic plastic Lego men.

This is just plain genius, and some very nice work by the people over at format…

If you haven’t heard of these guys, you need to head over to their website and check them out. Pac Div have been ripping it up out of the west coast in a huge way. You can check them out by heading over to their website HERE

Here is a quick run down about Pac Div, where they’ve come from, where they want to take hip hop…or more to the point, where they are taking hip hop by the scruff of its neck. These boys aren’t an overnight success, they have toiled hard and long for the standing that they are now claiming in the hip hop world and rightly so.

www.pacdiv.com

As Hip Hop attempts to regain its definition, fans are likely to soon be checking the standings within the Pacific Division. Palmdale, California’s trio consisting of brothers Like and Mibbs, along with BeYoung have been together dating back to 2001, shortly after their high school days. Joining the workforce lacked appeal compared to the glossy dreams that the guys had vicariously lived through as Hip Hop fanatics – so they went for broke and chased destiny with microphones and exclusive sneaks.

Within its half decade, Pacific Division has caught on fast. While many new talents strayed towards microwave music that trades quantity for quality, the troop from just north of Los Angeles emulated their idols, such as Native Tongues, Hieroglyphics and even Thug Life in slow-crafted, conceptual music. In mid 2006, Pacific Division’s Blend Tape premiered, as a thematic mixtape combining mid-‘90s classic-inspired covers with newer works with producer Swiff-D (The Diplomats, Snoop Dogg, Nas). Songs chronicled day-jobs, trying to appeal to the fairer sex without fat pockets, restoring a Black presence in Hip Hop, and carefully coifed wardrobes amidst the pursuit of glory. The results were jarring, landing the unsigned group in Vapors, Skope and Urb along with a thorough Internet presence. Without any major backing, the Southern California trio earned themselves major looks. Besides simply making nostalgic rap music with a contemporary edge – and donning clothes to match, Pacific Division had plenty to talk about.

In the course of the group’s development, Hip Hop superstars had begun to take notice even before the media. Through Myspace love alone, Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes had reached out to affirm Pacific Division in making innovative, fun music. Soon after, a chance meeting with The Roots’ Questlove in a Los Angeles record store led to a passed demo – which shockingly led to the “Proceed” drummer personally calling the group to also extend support. Snoop Dogg even shouted out the Pacific party on his “My Peoples. Rather than crutch these endorsements on album covers and Myspace banners, the trio matter-of-factly reminded fans that this trio was no overnight success.

Like the golden era icons, Pacific Division, while quietly crafting their debut album, has focused on making sure their live show is well…live. Having performed in Seattle and San Francisco as well as consistent show openings in Los Angeles for (TK), this is a group that’s focusing on chemistry above the popular rap fanfare. In the meantime, the F.A.T. LP is sizing up to be a Chubb Rock-sized selection of tracks, assisted by producers such as Exile and DJ Khalil and the group’s longtime producer Swiff-D. The album delightfully forgets the tangents rap music has taken in the mainstream, and simply affirms that good music is timeless. Masses are ready with open arms, as new features with The Source and Scheme magazines prove.

California Hip Hop is restructuring in the second half of the ’00 decade. As styles, faces and crews may change, three brothers from Palmdale remind you that it is, was and forever will be the Pacific Division.

Tommy Eye is an Unsigned Rapper / lyricist who thrives on standing out from the crowd. Presently residing on Shirley Warren Estate, Southampton, England; Tommy Eye does not come from a area firmly on the Hip hop music map….yet. Tommy is an Emcee who is all about reality, expressing himself, and communicating to the masses with some of the dopest sounds to ever hit their Ears! After working on his independent release, ‘Lessons In How To Fly’ - out now on Resident Alien - we can expect big things from this boy in the near future.


Tommy has been featured on Ras’ BBC 1Extra Homegrown show a couple of weeks back, and is now starting to get more and more gigs around the country. For anyone who is liking his flow, and for all other enquiries you can contact Tommy by e-mail at tommyeye@hotmail.co.uk


www.myspace.com/tommyeye

Yoshi Blessed, RISE’s very own Japanese master blogger, master of ceremonies, master of pretty much all things will be coming to fill the pages of NIHON SHOKI with all things ‘rising sun’.

With a free reign on pretty much anything he wants to write about, you will get to hear Yoshi’s heart on whatever he wants to talk about…providing you can read japanese. PROPS TO OUR MAN YOSHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII BLESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSED